Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors: Retrospective Analysis of 21 Cases

Abstract

Introduction: Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) are the most common mesenchymal tumors of the digestive tract. Theaim of this study was to evaluate 21 patients operated for GIST.Methods: We retrospectively analyzed medical and surgical records of 21 patients diagnosed with GIST who were operatedbetween 2008 and 2014 in our clinic. Gastrointestinal stromal tumors localizations, applied surgical methods, histopathologicalexamination results, postoperative medical treatments, and follow-up results were examined.Results: The study group consisted of 21 patients (11 males and 10 females) with a mean age of 69.29 (range, 39–89 years).Sixteen tumors were located in the stomach, 3 in the small intestine, 1 in the rectum, and 1 in the mesentery of the jejunum.The symptoms were not typical, and they depended on the localization and size of the tumor. The mean tumor size was6.8 cm (range, 1.8–20 cm). Positivity rates for CD117 and CD34 expression determined by immunohistochemical methodswere 95.2%, and 66.7%, respectively. One patient underwent laparoscopic resection, and other patients were treated viaopen surgery. Lymph node metastasis was observed in the patient with rectal tumor. Postoperatively, imatinib therapy wasadministered in 5 patients with high-risk tumors. Mortality was observed in 2 patients. Four patients were excluded fromthe follow-up because they could not be reached by phone. The mean follow-up period was 29.59±15.4 months. No recurrencesor metastases have been detected.Discussion and Conclusion: Gastrointestinal stromal tumors represent 0.1%–1% of all gastrointestinal malignancies. Themost common location is the stomach. The goal of surgery is complete gross resection with an intact pseudocapsule andnegative microscopic margins.